Fourth-quarter penalties cost Blaine its first loss of the season, 34-30 at Champlin Park.

Bengals penalties gave the Rebels, trailing 30-27, a first-and-goal in the final minute. Sophomore quarterback Bennett Otto capped the Rebels' drive with a 5-yard touchdown pass to senior wide receiver Marcus Hill with 53.3 seconds left.

"Every time I line up knowing he's behind center, I get confident," Hill said. "I know the ball is going to be where it's supposed to [be]."

Hill and Rebels senior quarterback Chad Costello also connected on an 80-yard touchdown pass. Otto and Costello split time at quarterback.

"I always trust both of them to make the right plays," Hill said.

Blaine senior running back Chase Harper made the right plays, too, though he was knocked out of the game three times. He scored touchdowns on runs of 2 and 5 yards.

"I just knew no matter how bad I am, I've got to keep coming back in and just do my thing out there for my team," Harper said.

Rebels junior running back Ernest Worjloh scored touchdowns on a 20-yard run in the third quarter and a 55-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Champlin Park (3-1) improved to 3-0 in the West Metro North division. Blaine (3-1) dropped out of a first-place tie with Totino-Grace.

MATTHEW DAVIS